The Amalgamated Weavers' Association, often known as the Weavers' Amalgamation, was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. Initially, it operated in competition with the

North East Lancashire Amalgamated Weavers' Association The North East Lancashire Amalgamated Weavers' Association was a trade union federation of local weavers' unions in part of Lancashire in England, in the 19th century. History The federation was founded in 1858 as the East Lancashire Amalgamat ...

in part of its area, and it was therefore nicknamed the Second Amalgamation.

History

The union was founded in 1884 as the Northern Counties Amalgamated Association of Weavers,Amalgamated Weavers' Association
", Archives Hub with the participation of thirty-four local trade unions: Mary Agnes Hamilton, ''Women at Work: A Brief Introduction to Trade Unionism for Women'', p.117 The majority of the union's members were female: in 1894, 45,000 of its 80,000 total membership were women. This was unusual; outside the cotton industry, very few women were members of trade unions. By 1937, membership had risen to 94,000, and the proportion of women had grown further, to a total of 75,000 of its members. For many years, the union campaigned against the practice of steaming in cotton mills. The union took its final name in 1923. In 1974, it merged with the

National Union of Textile and Allied Workers The Cardroom Amalgamation or Cardroom Workers' Amalgamation (CWA)Joseph L. White, ''The Limits of Trade Union Militancy'', p.240, note 9 was a British trade union which existed between 1886 and 1974. It represented workers in the cotton textil ...

to form the Amalgamated Textile Workers' Union.

Affiliated membership

The total membership of the union's affiliates grew steadily, peaked in 1922, then fell almost continuously until the union was dissolved.

Leadership

General Secretaries

:1884:

Thomas Birtwistle Thomas Birtwistle (16 October 1833 – 22 March 1912) was an English trade unionist and factory inspector. Born in Great Harwood, Lancashire, he worked in a cotton mill from the age of six, becoming a power-loom weaver at the age of fourteen. In s ...

:1885:

William Henry Wilkinson Sir William Henry Wilkinson (traditional Chinese: 務謹順, simplified Chinese: 务谨顺; May 10, 1858The Foreign Office list and diplomatic and consular year book for 1917, Foreign Office, Great Britain. - 1930) was a British Sinologist who se ...

:1906:

Joseph Cross Joseph or Joe Cross may refer to: People * Joseph Cross (actor) (born 1986), American actor * Joseph Cross (cartographer) (1821–1865), English cartographer * Joseph Cross (cricketer) (1849–1918), English cricketer * Joseph Cross (judge) (1843� ...

:1925: John C. Parker :1927:

Andrew Naesmith Sir Andrew Naesmith (24 July 1888 – 23 October 1961) was a British trade union leader. Born in Bonnyrigg in Midlothian, Naesmith grew up in Lancashire, where he worked in a cotton mill,"Obituary: Sir Andrew Naesmith", ''The Times'', 24 Octob ...

:1953: Lewis Wright :1968: Harry Kershaw :1971:

Fred Hague Fred Garfield Hague (29 September 1911''England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007'' – 13 November 1984) was a British trade unionist. Hague was born in Dixon Street, Crossbank, Waterhead, Oldham. He worked as a cotton weave ...

Presidents

:1884: David Holmes :1906:

David Shackleton Sir David James Shackleton (21 November 1863 – 1 August 1938) was a cotton worker and trade unionist who became the third Labour Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, following the formation of the Labour Representation Committee. He ...

:1911:

John William Ogden John William Ogden (1862 – 23 March 1930) was a British trade unionist. Ogden was born in Heywood, Greater Manchester, to Peter and Martha Ogden. He was baptised 14 September 1862.''Manchester, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 18 ...

:1930: James Hindle :1937: James Bell :1947: Carey Hargreaves :1949: Lewis Wright :1954:

Harold Bradley Harold Ray Bradley (January 2, 1926 – January 31, 2019) was an American guitarist and entrepreneur, who played on many country, rock and pop recordings and produced numerous TV variety shows and movie soundtracks. Having started as a session ...

:1960: Ernest Thornton :1964:

:1970:

Hilda Unsworth Hilda Peace Unsworth (11 November 1918 – 26 November 2015) was a British trade union leader who served as the last president of the Amalgamated Weavers' Association. Early life Unsworth was born in Bolton on Armistice Day, and as a result ...

References

{{Lancashire Cotton Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom Cotton industry trade unions 1884 establishments in the United Kingdom 1974 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Trade unions established in 1884 Trade unions disestablished in 1974 Trade unions based in Greater Manchester